This week I received news that my journalism professor and advisor at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Wiley Hilburn, passed away. An accomplished newspaper columnist, Hilburn was 75. I am sure he will be remembered fondly and missed greatly by his family, cohorts, students, and avid readers. Unfortunately, he will never know how much he meant to this former "Techster" and how much I regret never taking the time to say, “Thank you.”

I was probably not the most focused student during my junior and senior years at Tech, and I was not especially close to my advisor. However, Hilburn influenced and impacted me more than any other teacher I ever had. Even though Mr. Hilburn and I did not know each other well, he actually “got me.” He understood me in a way that few people did, and, for that, I will forever be grateful.

One particular encounter with Hilburn actually changed me forever. I was a snotty-nosed, know-it-all journalism major, enrolled in one of Hilburn’s creative writing classes. It would be an understatement to say that I thought I was pretty special. I was assured that the “old newspaper hacker" was going to be totally blown away by my uncorked talent.

He had given us an assignment to write a vignette for the following class period, and I figured it was going to be a breeze. I spent roughly 15 minutes on the short story, not really giving it much thought, and then raced off to hang with my friends.

During my next class period with Mr. Hilburn, I over-confidently handed him my homework and watched as he quietly read my quickly-scripted copy. I will never forget him turning to me, looking me straight in the eyes and telling me sternly that my story was "a piece of garbage." Honestly, my professor's words were a little more harsh than that, but I prefer the gentler version.

Looking back, he was absolutely right, and I deserved the honest and harsh criticism. Needless to say, I did exactly as he expected. I went back to my dorm and labored over the piece for hours, determined to give my mentor a short masterpiece.

It most likely was no surprise to the polished professor when I cautiously handed him my second draft and it resulted in an "A."

See, Mr. Hilburn had the amazing ability to read me; he understood my false confidence and somehow figured out what would motivate me to give him my very best.

Hilburn had no way of knowing that that particular encounter would change my life forever. Everything I do successfully today is a result of that lesson in taking the time to channel your abilities and do your very best. .. the first time.

I have shared that story with over 1,000 students in the past 20 years but I never took the time to tell Mr. Hilburn, "Thank you."